Condenser



Sept, v29, 1925.

A. J. CHARLTON CONDENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 Filed Aug. 14. 1922 v INVENTOR sept. 29, 1925.

A. J, CHARLTON GONDENSER Filed mg. 14. 1922" 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllbl yFfa, 6

Patented Sept. 29, 1925-.

UNITED STATES ALBERT J'. CHARLTON, OF LOWDEN, IOWA.

CONDENSER.

Application filed August 14, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that ALBERT J. CHARLTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowden, in the county of Cedar and State of Iowa, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising a combined condenser, heat and water gauge for automobiles.

The objects of my invention are, 1st, to provide, as an article of manufacture, an attractive-looking radiator cap containing means for condensing the steam and vapors from automobile radiators and means for easily and quickly determining the temperature and quantity of vwater within a radiator; 2nd, to provide as an article of manufacture, a radiator cap containing a movable element which indicates both the level and temperature of the cooling medium in the radiator.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device; F ig. 2 is a vertical section on the middle line of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; F ig. 4 is a detail showing the construction of the fixed tube; Fig. 5 is a detail showing the arrangement of the floating tube and Figure 6 is a detail showing one of the guide washers.

' Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

My device is calculated to take the place of an automobile radiator cap and has a threaded portion, 7, adapted to screw into the throat of the radiator, 9. The body of my device comprises a casing, 7, having hollow arms, 7b, formed integral therewith and extending therefrom radially but inclined slightly upward as they extend outward from the body.

Openings, 14, are left at the front and rear of the body which is preferably of thin metal. A glass tube, 6, is secured inside of the body, 7, and may be secured in place by a packing washer at each end or any suitable means to prevent breakage.

Openings, 11, are left in the sides of the glass tube, 6, to allow free communication between the interior of the arms, 7b, and the chamber formed by the glass tube, 6.

A fixed tube, 4, is formed integral with a Serial No. 581,787.

head, 4a. The flanges of the head, 4a, extend downwardly and fit closely upon the upper endof the body, 7. Spring clips, 12, are se cured to the head, 4a, and are locked in position by pins, 13, secured to the body, 7. and extend into suitable openings formed in the clips 12. The tube, 4, has a perforated bottom, 4, which affords entrance and exit for the water of the radiator into and out of the tube, 4. The tube, 4, is shown shortened in Figure 2 and may extend into the radiator to any desired depth.

A float, 2c, is mounted inside of the tube,

Y4, and is provided with guide lugs, 2b, se-

cured thereto which travel in corresponding channels formed on opposite sides of the tube, 4, to keep the float, 2, from turning around in the tube, 4.

The tube, 4, is preferably made of metal and is provided with openings, 41D at the front and rear thereof which register with the openings, 14, in the body, 7. f

Secured to the ioat, 2c, is a smaller tube` 2, extending upwardly from the ioat and having longitudinal ribs, 2a, extending laterally therefrom. These ribs travel in notches, 8, in the guide washer, 8, and assist in preventing the tube, 2, from turning. A thermometer, 1, is secured within the ioat and its lower end rests upon a suitable cushion, 10, which is preferably perforated.

A tube, 2, is provided with openingsl at each side which register with the openings, 4b, and 14. Y

A thermometer, 1, is preferably a triangular magnifying thermometer and iarranged so that it can be read either from the front or rear.

The guide washer, 8, is secured near the middle of the tube, 4, which is preferably grooved as at 4c, to secure the guide washer in position.

The tube, 5, represents the ordinary vent or overow tube of the radiator which is lengthened and extended upwardly and flattened so as to enter the chamber between the tubes 4 and 6.

In' the operation of my device the body, 7, is screwed into the throat of the radiator as shown in Figure 2. The tube, 4, is then inserted within the body and the head, 4a, secured in place by the spring clips, 12. The tube, 4, contains the float and thermometer. The radiator, of course, is filled to the desired height before the tube, 4, is inserted.

When the tube, 4, is inserted, the water enters the lower end of the tube and acting the top of the tube, 2, reaches the top of the sight, 14.

As the engine is operated and the water becomes heated, the heat is transmitted tto the thermometer which is preferably provided with a red liquid lor an expansion -medium. rlhe thermometer then indicates the temperature of the water and the height of ythe tube, 2, indicates the height or quantity of the water in -the radiator.

As the water in the radiator becomes hotter, `the steam enters the chamber formed by the tubes, 4 and 6, and also enters the interior of the arms, 7b, and as it is cooled, the co-ndensation water runs back into the radiator and thus avoids escape of the cooling medium.

Under ordinary conditions, my device will cause Suiiicient condensation to prevent the escape of steam through the outlet pipe, 5. In extreme cases, where the water is heated to such aneXtent that it rises above the top of the outlet pipe, 5, the water can flow ol' through the outlet, 5. I have not shown the body of the radiator nor the outlet, 5, extending through the radiator, but such devices are in common use and well-known.

It is well known that with heat indicating devices now in use, the water inthe radiator may become so low as to endanger the safety of the engine without the driver being able to tell whether the heat is due to low water or to some other condition. My device obviates this dihculty, as the driver can see at a glance whenever the water is below a given level, for the thermometer and tube carrying it will drop entirely out O sight when such a condition arises.

-Vhen the radiator1 is filled to the proper level, the top of the thermometer will stand at the top of the float chamber'. It is obvious that when the radiator is filled to the prescribed height, if the cooling medium 'throat of the radiator, a cylindrical body formed integral with or suitably `secured thereto and hollow arms v`vextending outward radially from the body, the :body and 'arms constituting a continuous condensation chamber.

2. A combined radiator cap and condenser comprising a neck adapted toseat uponthe throat of the radiator, an enlarged hollow body secured to and exter'lding above Vthe neck, and a plurality ofhollow yarms un'lted Ito and eXtending'outwardly from the body and sloping downwardly toward the body.

3. As an article of manufacture, a radiator cap having a. neck adapted to seat upon the throat of the radiator, a cylindrical body formed integral with or suitably secured thereto and hollow arms extending outward radially romthe body and sloping downwardly toward thebody, the body andarms constituting a continuous condensation chamber.

4. As an article of manufacture, a radiator cap having a neck adapted to seat upon the throat of the radiator, a 'cylindrical 'body Jformed integral with or suitably secured thereto and hollow arms extending outward radially from the body, the bottom portion of the hollow arms sloping downwardly ltoward the body and the body'an'd arms constituting a continuous condensation chamber.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ALBERT J. CHARLTON. 

